A tie in Virginia bodes poorly for democracy

A group of recounters get some help filling out the paperwork as they tally the ballots for the 94th District on Dec. 19, 2017, in Hampton, Va.

Photo: Joe Fudge, Associated Press

Virginia's House of Delegates 94th District captured America's attention last week after a dramatic saga of vote counts and recounts culminated in a perfectly tied election. Both three-term Republican incumbent David Yancey and Democratic challenger Shelly Simonds received 11,608 votes, a rare feat that had electoral enthusiasts across the country ecstatic about democracy in action.

On the surface, this race is a testament to the power of the American electoral system. A historically important election came down to a single citizen's vote, and yet every citizen was an essential part of the outcome. The symmetry somehow implies harmony, evoking images of Smalltown, USA, where politics exist in perfect balance.

But this bizarre fluke of democracy is no reason to celebrate. This outcome should leave Americans feeling deeply uncomfortable. Elections this close don't promote the values of compassion and inclusivity that people, especially the youngest and largest generations, are increasingly seeking in their elected officials. This is the type of vote that inspires ire and action by the political fringes. Razor-thin victories leave people feeling cheated. It's hard to build a governing coalition on miniscule margins.

This particular voting bloc in Newport News isn't a miraculously representative microcosm of the American electorate either. As in many other districts, the people who voted Nov. 7 don't reflect the constituency as a whole. According to the state election board, the Virginia 94th has more than 48,000 active registered voters, but not even half showed up on Nov. 7 to cast a ballot.

Another proprietary database shows that there are likely 15 percent more Democratic voters than Republican voters in the district. Of those Democrats, 35 percent are African-American, and less than a third of those voters have participated in more than two elections in their lifetimes.

That isn't unique to the 94th. Across the country are entire communities of people who are going unheard in the electoral process, and American election law has allowed that to happen.

The Virginia race shows why it's time to review the function and structure of our elections. The purpose of a representative republic is to build a government by and for its citizens, and right now, neither seems to be the case.

Americans can reconsider the entire premise of democracy by instituting laws that invalidate elections that don't meet minimum standards, such as 50 percent registered-voter turnout. The idea of minimum turnout requirements have been floated for bond elections in Texas, but there's no reason to limit the concept to those specific votes. Not only would such a regulation lead to better representation in government, it would also blunt laws that restrict ballot access for marginalized people.

There are other ways to increase turnout, such as automatic voter registration, longer election cycles, standardized election dates and easier access to early, mail-in and online voting. These rules would keep campaigns and elections focused on future governance and citizen participation in the political process.

This country seems to have completely abandoned the idea of forcing candidates to earn a political mandate. Instead we allow a bare minimum standard for elected representatives that undoubtedly has contributed to the nationwide feeling of political inertness. There's no reason Americans should have to settle for politicians who can't create a stronger public consensus. Plus, instituting higher thresholds for elected officials might even force the nation to finally, actually reconcile some of its toughest policy debates.

Election reform discussions often stop short of follow-through mechanisms because, let's be honest, the suspense keeps politics interesting and engaging. Unfortunately, that interest and engagement is seasonal with the campaign cycle. But citizens need to be invested in the process year-round. Repairing the American political system must start with overhauling the electoral system so that the issues - not the vote margins - sit at the center of attention.